Everything old is new again. Temples, one of 2014’s most promising buzz bands, re-creates the blissful moment when the first wave of psychedelic rock was still imbued with optimistic naiveté. Anyone partial to the Small Faces’ “Itchycoo Park” or the Beatles’ “I’m Only Sleeping” will swoon when they hear the young British quartet. Two interesting bands — one entirely derivative and one brazenly original — open the show. Drowners is one of several new ensembles from New York dedicated to reviving the sound of the Strokes’ seminal album “Is This It.” Drowners succeeds in its modest goal. Boogarins is a Brazilian ensemble that finds new ways to incorporate Tropicália into indie-rock.
Tickets are $15 in advance through
therecordbar.com. Shlohmo Thursday at the Granada
Shlohmo may be the definitive musician of the moment. The California-based DJ and producer specializes in the wavy, down-tempo version of electronic hip-hop that’s currently in vogue. As with many tastemakers, the music streaming service SoundCloud serves as his primary platform. A dreamlike 2012 remix of Drake’s “Crew Love” put Shlohmo on the radar of club-goers. “Brain,” his new collaboration with the prominent young vocalist Banks, is similarly stellar. Following his appearance at Coachella in April, Shlohmo is touring with San Francisco’s Jim-E Stack and London’s Purple, DJs who also create macabre beats.
Tickets are $15 in advance through
thegranada.com. Holly Golightly Friday at the Riot Room
Holly Golightly would be excused if she felt sorry for herself. The British-born and Georgia-based musician has watched a steady stream of like-minded roots-rock artists rise to stardom as she continues to toil in relative obscurity. Neko Case, Jack White and Valerie June are just three of the many celebrated artists who have left Golightly’s career in the dust. Yet Golightly has maintained the steadfast charm of the character in Truman Capote’s “Breakfast At Tiffany’s” who shares her name. Two locally based acts featuring veteran performers who are also often taken for granted — Kirsten Paludan and the Key Party and Anna Cole — open the show.
Tickets are $10 in advance through
theriotroom.com. Matt Pryor Friday at the RecordBar
The music industry’s new paradigm has forced musicians to locate alternative income streams. The tour that kicks off Friday at the RecordBar is sponsored by Downwrite, a songwriting-for-hire business. All of the artists featured on the tour are part of the service that allows fans to commission songs. Matt Pryor of the Get Up Kids tops the bill. Steve Soboslai is best known as the front man of Punchline. His pop-punk band from Pittsburgh is one of the form’s sturdiest outfits. Soboslai will perform as a solo act under the moniker Blue of Colors. Chicago’s Mark Rose, a cofounder of Downwrite, and Josh Berwanger, a particularly accomplished locally based songwriter, round out the bill.
Tickets are $12 in advance through
therecordbar.com. Hearts of Darkness Saturday at Crossroads KC
The first concert of the year at the outdoor venue at Grinders serves as a miniature festival with some of the best music Kansas City and Lawrence have to offer. Hearts of Darkness tops the five-artist bill. The Afrobeat ensemble creates thunderous dance music. The shimmering sound of Cowboy Indian Bear is beloved by connoisseurs of indie-rock. Even so, the relatively unknown Jorge Arana Trio promises to be the breakout band of the evening. The ensemble’s combination of jazz, funk and math-rock merits a wider audience. The veteran emcee Reach and Metatone, a promising new cross-genre addition to the scene, round out the bill.
Tickets range from $10 to $26.50 in advance through crossroadskc.com. The Dodos Saturday at the RecordBar
The Dodos have been applying tribal drumming to indie-rock since 2005. The fact that so few acts follow the Dodos’ lead isn’t an indication that it’s a bad idea. Instead, most bands simply lack the technical mastery to mimic the Dodos’ circuitous style. The San Francisco-based ensemble doesn’t allow its uncommon finesse to get in the way of conveying the emotional intent of its masterful songs. The Cave Girls, a garage rock trio from Kansas City, open the show. The goofy appeal of material like “Cave Girls Theme Song” will put a smile on the faces and a lilt in the steps of unsuspecting fans of the Dodos.
Tickets are $15 in advance through
therecordbar.com. Woods Sunday at the Granada
Love Garden Sounds contributes as much to the unique atmosphere of Lawrence as any business in the college town. The retailer on Massachusetts Street was slinging vinyl long before the format became trendy. The store is celebrating its 24th anniversary with a large batch of musicians that will perform on two stages at the Granada. Woods, the Brooklyn-based band that serves as the headliner, appeals to both the jam band and indie-rock crowds. Other national bands at the party include Boston’s Quilt and Brooklyn’s Blood on the Wall. Your Friend and Psychic Heat are among the local favorites appearing at the function. The first band will begin at 5 p.m.
Tickets are $12 in advance
through thegranada.com. YG Monday at the Granada
“My Hitta” isn’t the actual title of YG’s current hit. The radio edit expunges the most explicitly objectionable aspects of “My Hitta,” but there’s still no mistaking the song’s gritty themes and sinister undercurrent. YG, a rapper from the hip-hop hotbed of Compton, Calif., crafts street-oriented music. The credits of YG’s recently released debut album “My Krazy Life” reflect his lofty status. Drake, Jeezy and Kendrick Lamar are among the stars that contributed to the mean-spirited project. DJ Mustard, the prominent producer and DJ most closely associated with the licentious genre known as ratchet music, will accompany YG at the Granada.
Tickets are $25 in advance
through thegranada.com. Reignwolf Tuesday at the RecordBar
Jordan Cook, the man behind Reignwolf, spent much of April serving as the opening act for Black Sabbath. The prestigious entry on Reignwolf’s resume is likely to excite metal fans and repel partisans of indie-rock. Yet the Canadian isn’t so neatly categorized. Cook filters the innovations of Jimi Hendrix through a primitive punk aesthetic. Even before the release of a single album as Reignwolf, Cook is poised to become the next blues-rock luminary. Crass Mammoth opens the show. The trio from Georgia combine raging grunge in the tradition of Nirvana with classic rock elements inspired by the likes of Blue Oyster Cult and Steppenwolf.
Tickets are $12 in advance
through therecordbar.com. John Legend Wednesday at the Kauffman Center
Every generation adopts a new leading man as its preferred smooth R crooner. John Legend is the latest entry in a long line of illustrious artists that includes Luther Vandross, Teddy Pendergrass, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson and Sam Cooke. Legend’s ascent began 10 years ago. His sophisticated, sensitive and sultry hits like “Ordinary People,” “Green Light” and the recent smash “All of Me” have solidified his elevated place in R history. His appearance at Helzberg Hall on the “An Evening with John Legend: The All of Me Tour” is officially sold out.
Tickets range from $56-$126 in
advance through kauffmancenter.org.
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